Weekend Beyond Cars Roundup February 10, 2024

The U.S. military is considering the use of AI during warfare but researchers warn this may not be a good idea given AI’s predilection for nuclear war. In a series of international conflict simulations run by American researchers, AIs tended to escalate at random, leading to the deployment of nukes in multiple cases, according to Vice. - José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

Southwest Airlines unveiled a redesigned cabin featuring new Recaro seats, and while they have a clean modern look, they’re as thin as an ironing board. The seat manufacturer claims the shape of the backrest foam is “a callback to the automotive expertise of Recaro.” However, there’s an ongoing trend of introducing thinner seats to maximize cabin space and squeeze more paying passengers onboard. These new Southwest cabins are set to debut in early 2025 on the carrier’s new Boeing 737 Max 8 planes. - Ryan Erik King Read More

Race tracks are a dying breed. Everywhere you turn, another track is being besieged by neighbors dead-set on turning it into a golf course — despite those neighbors moving in long after the tracks started up. But out in Virginia, you have the chance to help turn that tide: A 30-acre drag strip is up for sale. - Steve DaSilva Read More

Over the past few months, a number of outlets have made a big deal about the Migaloo M5 “submersible superyacht,” a 544-foot luxury submarine meant to let the world’s richest folks get away from it all. There’s a side to the story that isn’t often covered, though: Migaloo doesn’t appear to have ever built a submarine, let alone one that costs $2 billion. - Steve DaSilva Read More

The private race to space basically has two main parties right now, there’s the Elon Musk-backed SpaceX, which regularly ferries supplies and satellites around for Nasa, and the Jeff Bezos-funded Blue Origin, which is the space travel agent of choice for the rich and famous. Now, there’s a third private space flight firm that’s almost ready to take to the skies, and its choice of spaceship is slick. - Owen Bellwood Read More

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for the Boeing 737 Max, a new problem has been found in production. Now, Boeing has to rework 50 undelivered jets before they can take to the sky. Good lord. - Andy Kalmowitz Read More

There’s nothing better than settling down to watch 12 ridiculously talented amateur bakers battle it out in a sweltering hot tent somewhere in the British countryside. Now, the pristine setting that the ‘Great British Baking Show’ tent is erected in every year is under threat as toxic runoff from roads surrounding the Welford Park Estate is polluting streams and rivers in the area. - Owen Bellwood Read More

Folks, we’ve got another missing submersible on our hands, but don’t worry. There aren’t any billionaires on board. In fact, no one is onboard the sub that was exploring underneath the “Doomsday Glacier” in Antarctica. You’d think we’d stay away from things with “doomsday” in the name, but that’s just human nature I guess. - Andy Kalmowitz Read More

Considering that we’re a car site, we write about Taylor Swift an awful lot here at Jalopnik. Well now, she’s back to grace our pages as it turns out the ‘Hits Different’ singer is threatening to sue a Florida student that’s been tracking her private jet. - Owen Bellwood Read More

You know the old saying: “One man’s trash is another man’s nuclear warhead.” Of course, you do, and that’s why it’ll come as no surprise that elements of a very large, mostly intact nuclear missile — including its goddamn warhead — were found in the garage of a Washington State resident. - Andy Kalmowitz Read More